Story 7 of the 30 Day Writing Challenge!
Trope: On the Rocks. Our couple is going through hard times...
Character Conflict: He's already won...
For Money or Love?
"Take another look at those winning numbers ladies and
gentleman…”
William did
a double take at the television as the edges of the ticket crinkled in his
hand. “Wha-what?” He could hardly breathe. “One, sixteen, seventeen,
thirty-two, Fifty…holy shit…” The screen of the television burned into his
eyes. “They match.” He jumped from the couch. “I won!”
The
unmistaken jingling of keys at the apartment door had him shoving the winning
ticket into his worn jeans. He sunk into the couch. He tried slowing his
breathing hoping Fara wouldn’t notice.
“Still on
that couch?” she barked as she past him to the kitchen. Every night had become
a test of who could yell the loudest. She was miserable.
“Yeah.”
“You could
help me,” she snapped.
He huffed
following her into the kitchen. Her hand shook as she emptied the grocery bag
on the counter. “Let me.”
“Surprised
I only hand to ask once.” He cringed. “Did you find a job?” she asked.
“No.” He
squeezed the bottle of salad dressing in his hand wanting to see it smash on
the wall. He should give up the news. There was no need to work. He was a
multi-millionaire. A flicker of hope flooded him.
“Did you
even try?”
He turned
to find her normal stance. She stood with one hand on her curvy hip with the other
gripping her curly brown hair at the root.
“Why are
you like this?”
“Because
I’m out there working to keep food on the table while you sit on your ass.” His
heart broke in two. It surprised him that her words could still hurt after months
of belittling. When did things change?
She stacked
the dishes into the washer. “Have you seen Jake’s new car he bought Sophie?”
He went to
the fridge to stock the items she purchased. “I didn’t notice.”
“That guy
would do anything for his wife. He loves her so much.”
“Stop,
Fara. Please.” He couldn’t take it any longer. He wanted nothing than to have
her respect. It wasn’t his fault the mill closed.
“I will
when you get your shit together.”
Slamming
the door he walked over to her. “Will you? I mean this seems like more than
just the lay off. What’s with you? Is it always about money?”
“It is
now.” Not one of those three words did he find true. Just tell her. He opened his mouth stopping short. Money would
never make them happy. Comfortable, maybe. But not happy. Not like they used to
be.
He touched
her shoulders. “I can’t help what happened. Please talk to me.”
She shrugged
out of his hold escaping to the other room. “Nothing to say.”
“Please,
baby. I think there’s more you’re not telling me. Is there someone else?”
She slapped
her thighs with her hands. “Why do you always go to that?”
“Well, I
think its natural given you can’t stand to be in the same room as me.”
“Ugh, this
is ridiculous.”
“Is it?” He
pleaded with his eyes, willing her to open up. She used to be so lovely. Joyful
even. He ended everyday knowing he married the right woman. But lately he wasn’t
so sure. She’d changed. And there was no amount of dollars and wealth that
could help her. “Where is the girl I married?” he whispered.
She visibly
shook crumbling to the chair. “I…I don’t know, Will.”
He exhaled crouching
in front of her as he cupped her folded hands. “Hey. It’s just me. I know our
situation is not ideal but we can get through this.”
She
stiffened as her leg bounced. The moment of vulnerability slipping away with
each second. “We can’t.”
He jerked
back in shock. “Just like that, Fara? You’re willing to throw away twenty some years
of marriage like that? At least let me know where things went wrong.” Again the
shock of his heart being ground into a fine powder amazed him. Was there
anything left? She opened her mouth to
speak and he shook a finger at her. “And if you say it’s because of my
unemployment you better think twice.”
It was the
last warning. He was at least trying. The burning need to share that their
financial woes were lifted by the lottery gods almost too much to bear. But not
until he knew they would be okay. He needed some glimmer of hope they could
survive this.
She
swallowed rubbing her lips together. Wrinkles marred her lips and eyes,
something he hadn’t noticed. She looked as though she fought a war inside and
it showed.
“I don’t
know what happened. I just…”
He brushed
her cheek with his hand but she was cold to his touch. “What, baby.”
“I don’t
think I love you anymore.”
His hand
fell to her nape and squeezed as tears bubbled in his eyes. “You can’t mean
that.”
“I’m sorry.
I just don’t have that thing any more right…” Her fist touched her heart.
“When did
this happen?”
“A while
ago.”
“When was
‘a while ago’?” His words coming out more tense than he’d expected.
She shrugged,
wetness spilling down her cheeks. “Last year, I guess.”
He
swallowed feeling the grief take over his chest. “Keep going.”
“Its
nothing. I just lost it. You used to surprise me with gifts and flowers. Not
that those things are important. Its being thought of that I miss the most. And
now that the kids are gone it’s like we’ve become friends.”
His ass hit
the floor as he gripped his knees. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her eyes
glistened. “I shouldn’t have to.”
“If I don’t
know what wrong, how can I fix it?”
“You
couldn’t tell?” Her voice quivered. “Did you not see the separation between
us?”
He hadn’t.
Maybe he was comfortable with their relationship but that didn’t mean he loved
her any less. “No…but know I love you.” He knelt beside her. “You have to know
that.”
Her eyes
were vacant as they stared through him. His heart leapt to his throat, their
entire marriage hanging in the balance. “Can we work on this?”
She stilled
as he waited for an answer. All the wealth in the world would not help them
now. She held the key to his happiness and their future. It all came down to
her answer. And in that moment his heart burned more than the millions in his
pocket.
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